David Lametti

[International Trade, November 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, on the forestry file, we have worked since day one, taking over from a previous government that had not worked on it at all, that had not opened renegotiations. We have done that. We have consulted across the country. We have, at a number of different levels, continued to pursue negotiations with our American partner.

As regards NAFTA, we know we have an important relationship with the United States. We know how important NAFTA is. We plan to continue to work with our partners to improve that relationship and that treaty over time.

[International Trade, November 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on the trade file.

The benefits of NAFTA are clear for Canada and the United States. In 2015, trilateral merchandise trade amounted to over $1 trillion. That is a growth of 3.6 times since 1993. The U.S. is our largest and most important trading partner. We are always going to look at ways to strengthen that relationship.

Trading agreements are important. We are always going to look at ways to better those, too, and that we will do in good faith. We are open to potential improvements, and that we will do.

[Foreign Affairs, November 16th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled Canada-Mongolia Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, done at Ulaanbaatar on September 8, 2016. An explanatory memorandum is included with this treaty.

[International Trade, November 16th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the United States is our biggest trading partner and NAFTA has been a huge success over the past 20 years. It is clear that with time, treaties occasionally need to be tweaked. We are prepared to do that in good faith. It is a normal part of the process. Other treaties are within the minister's mandate letter for tweaking, including the free trade agreements with Israel and Chile. This is a normal part of the process. NAFTA has been tweaked already over the past 20 years. We will continue to negotiate in good faith.

[International Trade, November 16th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, our government's record on international trade is impeccable. We found a solution to the country-of-origin labelling problem, we opened the Chinese and Mexican markets for our beef, and we saved CETA at the eleventh hour. We did all that, and that is the kind of thing we will keep doing.

As for NAFTA, agreements, especially 20-year-old ones, can certainly stand for some improvement. We will negotiate in good faith with our American partners.

[International Trade, November 16th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.

We have been working hard on this file since taking office. We are negotiating with the Americans, and we are keeping several lines of communication open. We are holding consultations across the country to move these files forward. We will reach an agreement, but it has to be a good agreement.

[International Trade, November 14th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her questions and comments.

Canada is a trading nation and its economic growth is directly linked to international trade. Our government strongly supports free trade as a way to open new markets to Canadian goods and services, grow Canadian businesses, and create well-paying jobs for the middle class.

The different opinions that we have heard on the TPP show how important it is for the government to hold an open and transparent dialogue with Canadians on its possible participation in the TPP. No TPP countries have ratified the agreement yet. The Government of Canada has committed to consulting all Canadians, and it will continue to keep that promise.

[International Trade, November 14th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I would like to remind hon. members that our government understands how important trade is to economic growth, as well as to a strong and prosperous middle class.

Canada's economic well-being is built on global trade. In fact, trade opens markets to Canadian goods and services, helps Canada's businesses expand, promotes innovation, strengthens our economy, and provides Canadians with trade opportunities around the world.

The government knows that it is essential to consult Canadians on the trans-Pacific partnership, the TPP. We promised Canadians that we would consult them in an open and transparent manner on the results of this agreement. That is what we are doing and what we will continue to do.

The government is taking note of the opinions and positions expressed during the consultations. It is clear that the TPP is looked upon favourably by Canadian businesses and industrial associations that are geared to export. Most of them consider the TPP to be an important opportunity to diversify Canadian trade and give Canadian exports more access to foreign markets.

However, other groups raised concerns, including a whole range of stakeholders in health care, who said they were concerned about the potential financial impact of certain requirements regarding pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, in addition to some 250 consultations with over 500 stakeholders across the country, town halls were organized in order to engage over 1,000 members of the general public.

Last week I was in the Northwest Territories specifically for the TPP consultations with a wide range of groups, including indigenous groups. Many other Canadians interested in this matter engaged directly to share their point of view, particularly through the TPP consultation website created by the government.

A broad cross-section of Canadians have been involved in these consultations. This includes provincial representatives, female entrepreneurs, innovation firms, farmers, the forestry and wood products sector, the fish and seafood sector, indigenous groups, environmental groups, small and medium-sized enterprises, labour unions, auto workers, auto parts manufacturers, port authorities, civil society organizations, academics, students, business leaders, and citizens.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade is currently conducting its own study on the impact of the TPP. The government will continue to support those efforts. We encourage Canadians to continue to share their opinions as we continue to assess Canada's potential participation in the TPP.

[Softwood Lumber, November 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. We are working very hard on several levels to finalize a softwood lumber agreement. The minister has been in touch with her counterparts. We continue to work hard and are holding consultations. Last week, I went to Gaspé to listen to the concerns of producers and workers in this sector. We are still working on getting an agreement that will be good for Canada.

[International Trade, November 2nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for bringing her unique voice to the House. CETA is clearly in Canada's national interest, and it is time for all of us to rally around it. On top of delivering tangible growth for our economy and opportunities for the middle class, CETA will provide a strong foundation for Canada and the EU to demonstrate leadership on what is truly a progressive accord, a green accord, a health accord, and a labour accord. It also enshrines the right to regulate.

The ICS provisions, I suspect, are something that the trade committee will look at over the upcoming weeks. We will work with the committee and with our European partners as well.